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The Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, is wooing entrepreneurs in the Kashmir Valley, after reaching out to local Muslim businessmen in and around Ahmedabad.
A Muslim business delegation from Jammu and Kashmir is set to visit Gujarat and meet Modi. Comprising four or five young Muslim entrepreneurs, the delegation intends to learn about Gujarat's success as well as explore linkages with the state.
Led by Sheikh Khalid Jehangir, recently inducted into the BJP by Modi at a recent rally in the state, the delegation represents sectors like power, hospitality and food processing.
"We have been influenced by Modi's development work in Gujarat. Muslims here believe he can be a better prime minister and bring economic development to Jammu and Kashmir. If Muslims from Jammu and Kashmir support Modi and his vision, Muslims in other states must support him since he is pro-economy, pro-governance and pro-humanity," said Jehangir. State BJP spokespersons could not be reached despite several attempts.
The delegation will include Sajid Farooq Shah, CEO of Comrade Hotels Pvt Ltd; Asif Rishi, MD of Shaheen Agro Pvt Ltd; Ifshan Khanday, tourism and hospitality entrepreneur; and Mohsin Fayaz, director of SA Power Utilities Pvt Ltd and Gemini Energy Pvt Ltd.
"You have to move away from communal lines and look at growth. We have been hearing about Gujarat's growth and we, too, want to be part of this development. We want Kashmir to benefit from Gujarat and create linkages with the state," said Sajid Farooq Shah of Comrade Hotels.
